Selector switch control mechanism for vending machines



5 Sheets-Sheet l C. T. BREITENSTEIN ET AL Aug. 1, 1967 SELECTOR SWITCH CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. lO, 1965 Artys.

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CTOR SWITCH CONTROL MECHNSM FOR VENDING MACHINE LEL..

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

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Aug 1, 1967 c. T. BREITENSTEIN ETAL 3,333,734

SELECTOR SWITCH CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. lO, 1955 United States Patent O 3,333,734 SELECTOR SWlTCH CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Charles T. Breitenstein, Elk Grove Village, and Donald C. Pearl, Lake Zurich, lll., assignors to Canteen Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 512,915 S Claims. (Cl. 222-2) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The apparatus shown is a multiple push button selector switch for an electrically operated vending machine. The selector buttons are latched against being actuated until the control solenoid releases a ladder drawbar indicating necessary coinage has been inserted.

Of the selections, one group is considered primary selections each representative of a different iinished product. Each selection button controls the mechanical actuation of its mechanism by moving the released drawbar on selection. One of these selection mechanisms (that controlling the most complex product available), is permanently connected to the drawbar so that movement of the drawbar in response to any selection of this group actuates the most complex product selection mechanism. With this most complex selection mechanism actuated, the selected mechanism (if not the most complex) either subtracts functions from the most complex, or modifies functions of the most complex to implement the selection actually made.

The present invention relates to vending machines which dispense one of a plurality of products on selection and more particularly to the use in such machines of an improved control switch apparatus. The present invention constitutes an improvement over the switch mechanism of the type shown in Patent application Ser. No. 350,724 of C. 'l'. Breitenstein for Selector Switch Mechanism for Vending Machines, -iled Mar. 10, 1964, now U.S. Patent 3,243,080 issued Mar. 29, 1966.

In recent times, there has been an increasing use of vending machines especially of the more complex, multiple-selection type. The greatest amount of innovation has taken place in the eld of machines which store individual ingredients and which on a selection having been made combine the ingredients into the 'finished product for dispensing. Such machines include those vending hot drinks, carbonated drinks, and iced drinks. In such machines, with the complex cycle of operations necessary to process the product and dispense it, electrical control mechanisms have become indispensable. In the usual electrical control mechanism, the normal technique is to provide each selection with the circuit controllers necessary to complete the cycle of the product selected. Thus, each selection requires sufficient contactors (or other means) to control the production cycle for the selected product. Such a production cycle may include the steps of: positioning a carrier to receive the product, feeding the ingredients in proper amounts to a production area, joining the ingredients together in the necessary process, and dispensing the finished product to the carrier. This approach, the straight-forward one, requires a great number of controllers or contact actuators at each selection. Since each contact actuator uses precious or semi-precious metal contacts, this approach can result in a mechanism having a considerable number of precious metal contacts, each capable of malfunctioning, and in general can lead to mechanisms of considerable cost and low reliability.

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It is, therefore, an object of the invent-ion to provide for use in coin-actuated devices such as vending machines, an improved control and selector switch mechanism which minimizes the number of necessary contactors and circuit controlling elements.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved control and selector switch mechanism for a coin-actuated machine in which a certain one of the selection units is actuated on all selections in addition to the selection made by the purchaser.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a vending machine with an improved control switch mechanism in which a basic cycle operation of the machine is initiated on all selections, and in which the selection actually made by the customer merely subtracts from or otherwise alters the operation of the basic cycle.

One possible use to which the present invention may be applied is that of a vending machine, such as a hot drink machine. In such a machine there may be a number of individual selections each of which would result in a hot drink of a particular principal type being dispensed. Certain auxiliary ingredients may be added to the drink during the operative cycle by the customer, although all other principal selections should be prevented once a selection has been made. For example, in such a machine there may bethe following principal selections: a soup (tea) selection, a hot chocolate selection, a black coffee selection, a coffee with cream selection, a cotiee with sugar selection, and a selection of coffee with both cream and sugar. In addition to these principal selections, there could be provided such auxiliary selections as extra cream and extra sugar, these latter selections to be actuated, if desired, in addition to a selection of one of the principal coiiee items, listed above. All selections both principal and auxiliary would be locked until released by the proper amount of coinage having been deposited. Once the selected drink had been produced and dispensed, the selector mechanism would again be locked awaiting the next sale. This use is merely cited as an example of an application for which the present invention can be readily be used.

Brieiiy describing the construction and operation of the present invention, there is provided a selector mechanism with a separate selector unit for each possible selection. Overlying all selector units is a two-selector solenoid-actuated ladder or drawbar which normally latches all selector units against actuation.

The latter is released from its latched condition by solenoid induced movement in response to the proper amount of coinage having been deposited. The ladder sections are joined by a heavy tension spring to move as a unit, so that actuation of the solenoid moves both sections of the ladder to their released condition. This release movement of the ladder frees all the individual selector units for selections. Freeing of the selector units is merely a preparatory step. Actuation of a particular selection is effected by depression of the button representing the desired drink. This depression always causes the actuation of one basic selector unit, that representing the coffee with cream and sugar selection. In addition, depression of the particular selector button actuates its own selector unit. The selection actually made (assuming it is not the basic selection) merely acts to modify the cycle which had been started by the actuation of the basic selection unit. For other coffee selections (without cream, without sugar, or without cream and sugar), the one or both of the ingredients (cream and/or sugar) is omitted from the basic cycle (coifee with cream and sugar) by the opening of a normally closed circuit at the specific selection. For the dispensing of other drinks such as soup or chocolate, normally closed circuits to coffee, cream, and sugar feed control are opened as well as those controlling coifee production. The basic cycle is started, and the specific dispensing circuit for soup or chocolate powder is closed. In addition, if tea is desired in place of soup, the tea dispensed is plain, with cream and sugar optional.

By this construction, with the subtraction of functions from, or modifications in the basic circuit, there need only be a single breakrcontact set at each coffee selector unit and only a single break-make combination at each of the selector units for other drinks, such as soup or chocolate. The selector units for the auxiliary ingredients-extra cream or extra sugarrequire only a make combination. In this way, the number of contacts at each selection unit is minimized, greatly reducing the cost and complexity of the switch mechanism and greatly increasing its reliability.

The invention both as to organization and principle of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood with respect to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial view in perspective of the rear side of the invention and of the side shown in FIGURE 1 viewed from the remote thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of the rear of the mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional interior view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, the view showing the mechanism in its normal position;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a control circuit for a hot drink vending machine utilizing the mechanism shown; and

FIGURE 6 is a cam closure diagram for use with the diagram of FIGURE 5.

Viewing the drawings in detail, there is shown a switch mechanism 10 of the type shown generally in the cited Breitenstein application, over which the present invention comprises an improvement. The mechanism 10 which with its control circuit forms the basis of the present invention, is shown for reference purposes aligned with a partial panel 12 (FIGURE 1) which represents the front panel of a vending machine or the like.

The switch mechanism 10 has as its main structural member an elongated channel frame 14 having a web 16, and two side flanges 20. The channel web is considerably longer than it is wide, the length providing room for a plurality of selectors or selector units (A-H) spaced along its length, from one longitudinal end as indicated by the direction arrow 32, to the other indicated by the arrow 34. At each selector unit, the channel has a number of slots and circular holes in both flanges and in the web for mounting thereto the operative components of the mechamsm.

Mounted slideably to the outside of the left flange is a ladder-shaped drawbar 22 which extends past all the selector units. The drawbar includes two rectilinear sections 23 and 24 joined by a tension spring 30. The drawbar sections have a series of spaced, longitudinally elongated slots 26 within certain of which are mounted bolts 27, the bolts being aixed into suitably threaded holes in the flange 20. This bolt in slot arrangement constrains the drawbar to slide motion along the ange. An intermediate one of these bolts has a knobbed stud 28 above drawbar section 24, the bolt being affixed to the ange and extending outwardly to anchor one end of a tension spring 30 to the wall of one flange 20.

Adjacent the channel end 32, the drawbar terminates in a reinforcing bracket 40. Bracket 40 has an offset tip 42 extendingparallel to stud 28 to anchor the other end of tension spring 30. In this way, the drawbar 22 is normally biased as a unit by spring 30 toward the stud 28 and therefore toward remote end 34 of the mechanism. The drawbar sections 23 and 24, as mentioned, are in effect joined by tension spring 30 to generally move the drawbar as a unit in both longitudinal directions. The slit 39 in the drawbar separating both sections occurs as shown in FIGURE 1 between the second and third selector unit from the solenoid end 32 of the drawbar.

The reinforcing bracket 40 is connected through a motion transferring member 46 to the plunger 48 of a solenoid 50. This solenoid is mounted in the channel, so that its plunger 48 is reciprocable within the channel parallel to the channel web and flanges. On actuation, this solenoid attracts its plunger to pull drawbar 22 toward the end 32 of the mechanism against the bias of tension spring 30. Spring 30 supplies a restoring force for returning the drawbar to its unoperated position when the solenoid is de-energized. With the solenoid de-energized, the drawbar 22 is held in a position preventing all selections, in a manner to be described.

In FIGURE l, there can be seen a plurality of aligned selector buttons or shafts `60 which protrude through suitable spaced apart circular openings in the webr 16 of the channel frame 14. These buttons also extend through similar openings in the front panel 12 (FIGURE 1) of the vending machine (not shown) to afford an exposed shaft portion depressible from the exterior of the machine. Each of these shafts may have mounted thereon an enlarged button head (not shown). Each button or shaft represents what will be called herein a selector unit. Each of these selector units has a mechanical structure similar if not identical to that of its neighbor unit, and has electrical circuit contactors responsive to the actuation of the particular unit to effect the dispensing of a product differing in some way from the product dispensed in response to a selection at each other unit.

The earlier described channel, drawbar, and solenoid are disposed commonly with respect to all the selector units A-H.

Viewing a typical unit, as seen in FIGURES 1-4, it can be seen that each button 60 has a radially extending stepped collar midway along its length, this larger diameter collar continuing rearwardly for a short distance. Rearward of the collar, button 60 has a reduced diameter shaft section 92. Collar 90 is larger in diameter than the adjacent web opening and acts to position button 60 against the web and limit the forward movement of the button.

Each button 60 is journalled adjacent its front in the opening of web 16 and its rear is journalled in an axially aligned opening 98 in a rear bearing plate 100, individual to the unit. Each bearing plate has mounting configurations extending from the bearing plate (see FIGURE 2) to abut against the outside Wall of right ange 20 and be supported thereon by suitable mounting means.

Encircling shaft section 92 between rear bearing plate 100 and collar 90 is a compression spring 110 which biases the button 60 forwardly through web 16. On depression, the depressed button moves axially rearwardly against the bias of spring 110.

Adjacent the remote end side each of bearing plate 100, a latch lever is mounted between the channel flanges. This lever, shown best in FIGURE 2, fits through suitable slots in the anges to extend across the web perpendicular thereto. The lever has a rectangular main body 142 slightly shorter in length than the width of web 16 and has a rectangular cutout 144 at its center. From one transverse end of the main body 142, a prong 146 protrudes. This prong fits through an enlarged port 148 in the drawbar side flange 20 approximately midway in the ange depth and continues outwardly through a slot 149 in the drawbar 22. Toward the opposite end of the lever main body 142, aligned opposite rectangular recesses 150 are inset into the side edges of the body 142. These recesses mate in suitable slots in the flange 20 with a spring mounting tab 154 projecting integrally from the lever outwardly past the drawbar flange. The ange slots receive recesses 150 and hold the lever firmly. The lever is mounted pivotally in the channel in a manner eliminating the necessity for pivot pins and the like. Spring mounting tab 154 holds one end of a tension spring 156 which extends from the lever to a mounting 158 fixed to the channel 14 in the remote end direction to bias each lever in the body of the flange slot. This spring also biases the lever prong 146 toward the solenoid end of the channel.

The latch lever 140 serves to support in a movable manner a contact actuating card 160 which is fabricated of suitable insulating material such as paper -or cloth base phenol fiber. This card has in its most exposed edge 162 one or more notched grooves 164. One of these grooves receives an armature contactor 166 for opening and closing circuits in a known manner. The card 160 is supported for slide motion in a plane parallel and contiguous to the left channel ange. The card rests along the inside of ange 2G and is held thereagainst by an edge 118 of bearing plate 100. Card 160 is inset with oppositely directed recesses (not shown) aligned to receive mounting members of bearing plate 100 such as aligning lug 116 at one end and elbow 129 leading to lug 116. The recesses are elongated to allow slide movement of the card relative to the channel while restricting the card to this form of movement only.

To provide the motive force for card 169, the card has a slit to receive prong 146 of the latch lever therethrough. The lever projects through the card slit and through aligned ports in flange and drawbar 22. Note that prong 146 of unit A extends through channel slot 148 and terminates adjacent the remote end 17 0 of drawbar 22. Dr-awbar 22 bears against all latch lever prongs to maintain all the latch levers immobile until the drawbar is released on the energization of solenoid 50, such release preparing the levers for movement of one of their number when it is released by depression of its button 69.

Each latch lever 140 is normally biased t0 an unoperated position by its individual tension spring 156 which is attached to the latch lever spring mounting tab 154. Spring 156 is attached at its opposite end (toward remote end '34) to a similarly shaped tab 158 of a spring assembly stationary bracket 180. This bracket is suitably fastened to the outer side of flange 20, and extends in the main perpendicularly away from the web 16. At one end, the bracket 180 has a spring assembly 192 including the contactors which comprise an armature spring 166 and one or two stationary springs 168 mounted in a spring pile-up with suitable rectangular insulators spacing and insulating adjacent contact springs. Each armature spring extends through the groove 164 in its card 160 for movement with the card. On such movement, the armature spring 166 makes or breaks circuits to the stationary spring or springs 168 within the spring assembly, as will be explained.

Between each of the selector units which are to be interlocked, there is provided a T-shaped pivot member 200 (FIGURE 4). Each pivot member 200 has a mounting leg 202 extending through a slot 204 in web 16 sized to allow longitudinal pivotal motion of the pivot member 200. The leg may be mounted to the web by any suitable method, allowing pivotal movement of win gs 214 of T-member 200 in a plane longitudinal to the channel web 16 and parallel to both anges 20. Wings 214 t within notches 130 along the center line of the rear bearing plate 100 on either side of pivot member 200. In this way, the wings 214 are poised outwardly of the rear ends 92 of the buttons 60 of the adjacent units. Thus, the leftmost member 200 extends to the rear of both adjacent selector units A and B. All

units are interlocked but the G and H units since they are used to select extra or auxiliary ingredients, i.e., cream and sugar for the dispensed product.

In the description heretofore, a typical unit has been described. Other selector units differ in mechanical construction from that described in detail only, some of the differences of consequence being as follows:

One unit, the C unit, has its card 160 pinned to the ladder section 24 by means of a rivet 218; this rivet passes through a slot in one of the anges 20 and causes card C to move the ladder on actuation of any of the units A-F. Selector units G .and H are the only ones whose operating levers engage drawbar section 23, such that their actuating does not affect selector unit C. In the units B-F listed above, the lever prong 146 extends through individual slots 149 in drawbar 22 while the prong 146 of the A unit extends and is maintained adjacent the drawbar end 17 0, as indicated for unit A. In addition, for those selections which are not to be interlocked, no pivot member 200 is provided, and thus no wings 214 of a pivot member are poised adjacent the rear end of button 6i) of such unit.

Each unit represents ia particular selection to be made by the customer. The A unit represents the soup selection or optionally a tea selection, B the chocolate selection, C the coffee with both cream and sugar selection, D the coffee lwith sugar selection, E the coffee with cream selection, and F the black coffee selection. The G and H selections represent extra cream and extra sugar, respectively. These last units (G and H) may be actuated in addition to the selection for the principal selection, when an extra amount of one or both of these ingredients is desired.

Now turing to FIGURE 5, there is shown a portion of the circuitry for a vending machine necessary to complete the description of the operation of the switch mechanism 10. Deleted from the showing of FIGURE 5 are other necessary elements of a hot drink machine, such as water level control, heat control, etc. The apparatus of FIG- URE 5 includes the electrical circuit contactors which are generally designated 166 and 168 in FIGURES l-4. The armature contactors 166, as mentioned previously, are actuated by the mechanism 10. In addition, FIGURE 5 includes a set of motor-driven cam controlled contact sets generally designated 220, various control relays, ingredient motors, and a cycle controlling motor 222. Motor 222 is a conventional timing or cycle control motor which rotates a cam shaft (not shown) through a gear reduction, such that the cam shaft makes one complete revolution and one cycle of its driven cam contact sets 220 in approximately ten seconds.

The circuit of FIGURE 5 is energized by a 110 volt 60 cycle AC source indicated by conductors L1 and L2. Connected to lead L2 are a number of ingredient feed and processing motors and solenoids. For a soup dispensing cycle, there is provided a soup powder feed motor 230, a soup hot water feed solenoid 232, and a soup whipper motor 234. Optionally, a relay 362 with its contact sets 304, 306, and 308 may be provided to allow an optional choice of soup in place of tea. This relay is actuated by the manual closure of switch 300 to dispense tera in place of soup. Only one of these options, tea or soup, may be set at any one time.

For a chocolate cycle, there are provided a chocolate powder feed motor 240, a chocolate hot water feed solenoid 242, and a chocolate whipper motor 244. For the basic coffee cycle, and its variations, there are provided a coffee feed motor 250, a coffee hot water feed solenoid 252, a sugar feed motor 254, and a cream feed motor 256.

In addition, FIGURE 5 includes a cup dispensing motor 260, a cup turret indexing motor 262, the selector solenoid 50, and a credit relay 265. Credit relay 265 has three normally open contact sets 266, 267, 'and 268.

The contactors 166 and 168 of the mechanism 10 are labelled A through H to agree with the units previously designated. Within the selection contactors, at selection A there is a break contact combination with an armature contactor 270 which is normally closed to stationary contact 272. On actuation of selector unit A, armature contactor 270 is moved to open the circuit to stationary contact 272 and to close a circuit to contact 274. Similarly, at chocolate selection B, there is a break-made contact com- 7 bination with an armature contactor 275, normally closed to stationary contact 276, and on actuation of the button at selection B, this armature contactor opens its circuit to contact 276 and closes to stationary contact 277. At the re- 'maining selections C through G, there is only provided either a make combination `or break combination. At selection C, there is a normally-open, make contact combination 280. At selections D, E, and F, there are individual normally-closed, break contact combinations, respectively numbered 282, 284 and 286. Selections G and H have normally-open, make combinations 290 and 292, respectively.

In addition, the circuit of FIGURE includes coin- -actuated switch Contact 295 which responds to the insertion of coinage of the proper amount to momentarily open the circuit at its back contact 296 and to close a circuit to its other contact 297.

The previously mentioned soup or tea toggle switch 300 is shown in the position to produce soup on the depression of button A. When the machine service personnel desires that tea to be dispensed from the A selection in place of soup, the feed ingredients are changed and switch 300 is closed. This closure prepares a path to the soup or tea choice relay 302. This relay controls three break-make contact combinations 304, 306, and 308 which complete various circuits for tea vending. The only major difference, in principle, between soup and tea vending, is that provision must be -made to add sugar and cream to tea, if desired. For soup, feeding of these added ingredients must be prevented.

Controlled by brewer motor 222 are the previously mentioned sets of cam actuation sequence control contacts indicated generally by the numeral 220. These cam actuated contacts govern the duration and sequence of operation of the steps necessary to a vend cycle. These contacts control the amount of feed of the ingredients in a cycle. The cams (not shown) for these contacts preferably should be adjustable in throw, so lthat the amount of Afeed of each ingredient can be closely controlled and set. Such controls are well-known in the art, and need not be explained in detail. This allusion to the cams is made to emphasize the fact that these control contacts could not be directly added to the selection switch mechanisms without the addition of timing controls and many added circuit components which in themselves would have to perform the timing control function.

The specific details of the closure of the cam actuated contact set 220 are shown in the cam control chart of FIG- URE 6 and will now be described briey. A iirst of these contacts, movable contact 320, is normally closed to stationary contact 322. At the beginning of the operative cycle of the machine, armature contact 320, opens the circuit at contact 322 and closes to contact 324. This latter circut remains closed for the duration of the machine dispensing cycle. This circuit acts as a holding circuit for cycle control motor 222, maintaining the control motor operative. Just prior to the end of the machine operative cycle, contact 320 restores to its normal position, releasing the cycle control motor 222. The adjacent contact set 325 is normally open; it closes once briey toward the end of the operative cycle and opens prior to the end of the operative cycle. Its function is that of holding solenoid 50 operated once the solenoid initial operating path is opened, as will be explained later.

The next contact set 328 is normally open and pulses once. This pulsing is of brief duration occurring toward the beginning of the operative cycle to initiate the placement of a fresh cup in the liquid receiving station. The cup must be placed to receive the later prepared hot drink at a location accessible to the drink purchaser. The next contact set includes an armature contactor 330 which is normally open with respect to both its stationary contacts 332 and 334. Contact 330 closes to contact 332 to initiate hot water feed by energizing water feed solenoid 252. Contact 330 thereafter closes to contact 334 to 8 complete a circuit to coffee feed motor 250 and feed ground coifee while maintaining the closure to contact 332. Armature contact 330 opens both circuits when the metered amount of water and coee grounds is dispensed. The next contact set includes an armature contact 335 which is normally open to both of its stationary contacts 336 and 337. This contact is used to control the feeding of sugar to the drink, whenever necessary, as indicated by the selection closures at switch mechanism 10. Contact 335 first closes to Contact 337 for a timed period to feed sugar to the drink, if desired. At the end of this feed time, armature contact 335 opens the circuit to contact 337 and later closes to 336 to prepare the extra sugar circuit for selection.

The next contact set includes an armature contactor 340 normally open to both its stationary contacts 342 and 344 and which operates in a manner similar to that of contact 335 for the purpose of feeding cream, as necessary. In the next contact set, there is an armature contactoi 345 which is normally open to both its stationary contacts 346 and 347. Armature contact 345 is of the type which will close rst to contact 346 and then close to Contact 347 maintaining its closure to both of these con-V tacts to meter the amount of hot water and chocolate powder fed to the drink and to control the duration of the Whipping action on the resulting beverage. A further contact set 348 is normally closed and opens just prior to the end of the operative cycle of motor 222 to release the hold path to credit relay 265, and thereby start the 4release sequence. A iinal set of cam actuated contacts is operative for the soup cycle, and includes an armature contactor 350 which is normally open toits stationary contacts 352 and 354. Contact 350 will close to contact 352 to prepare a path to the soup whipper motor and the soup hot Water solenoid and will thereafter close to contact 354 to operate the soup powder dispensing motor maintaining a closed circuit to both these contacts for a metered length of time.

These cam actuated contacts will function during each cycle in a generally known manner. In each cycle, a number of the described functions will be prepared Within timer cam contacts but will not -be completed due to open selection circuits indicating that the circuit closures are not necessary to the drink selected.

In addition to the previously described components, there may be provided normally-open test switches 360 and 362 for testing various circuit functions. In addition, the cup dispensing motor 260 has associated with it two normally open contact sets 370 and 372. These contact sets each close at the start of the operative cycle to maintain the dispenser motor 260 and turret index motor 262 operative for the duration of their respective operative cycles, in a known manner.

Operation.

When coins of proper amount are received, the coin switch transfers its armature 295 from its normal closure to 'back contact 296 to a momentary closure to contact 297. The closure completes a path from L1 through contacts 295-297 to credit relay 265. Relay 265 energizes and closes its contact sets 266, 267, and 268. Shortly thereafter, contact 295 restores to back contact 296 and opens the credit relay energizing path. Relay 265, however, is locked operated over a hold path through its own contacts 266 and normally closed cam-actuated contact set 348 to conductor L1.

At contacts 267, a path is closed to energize the selector solenoid 50 through the now closed contacts 296-295. Selector :solenoid 50, on energization, draws its plunger in the direction of arrow 32 (FIGURE 1) sliding drawbar 22 in that direction releasing the levers 140 for selection. At lcontact set 26'8 of credit relay 265, a path to the cycle control motor 222 is prepared pending a selection.

Once the coin insertion has been made, selection of the desired product is made by depressing the button correspending to the product desired. If soup is desired, button A is depressed. Depression of the button at unit A moves the button shaft and its collar 90 rearwardly. Collar 90 engages with cutout 144 and the latch lever at unit A pivots under the effect of its spring 156. This lever movement at unit A causes the contact card 160 at unit A to slide in the direction of arrow 32 to actuate contact l270 (FIGURE and open a circuit from contact 270 to contact 272 and to close a circuit to contact 274. This lever actuation slides drawbar 22 (FIGURE l) in the direction of arrow 32. The drawbar movement through its direct connection to unit C moves the contact actuating card of unit C in the actuating direction, closing contact set 280 (FIGURE 5).

As mentioned previously, the collar 90 of the depressed button at the selected unit engages the cutout 144 of the latch lever 14) of its unit and will latch that unit actuated for the duration of the cycle. Latching of the A unit will maintain the closed path through contacts 270-274 to implement the soup cycle. The actuation of the one unit will keep the drawbar in its displaced condition maintaining unit C .actuated This latter actuation maintains the closure of the contact set 286` to keep the basic or control circuit operative. The basic circuit through contact set 280 completes the operating path to cycle control motor 222 through credit relay contact set 268 and restored coin actuated contacts 296-295. This closed circuit will initiate the operation of the cycle motor 222 and as a result the cycle cam actuated contacts 226 will be started.

It should be noted that the circuit to the coffee feed motor 250 and coee water solenoid 252 includes a series path between contacts 270 and 272 at unit A. These lastmentioned contacts are now open due to the actuation of armature contact 27 t) and its closure to contact 274 on depression of the button at the A unit. This closure, as mentioned, prepares a path to the soup ingredient feed components.

Cycle control motor 222 once energized, passes into its operative cycle. First, the motor closes its contact 320 to contact 324 to complete its own hold path. This hold path will remain closed for virtually the entire duration of the operative cycle of the motor (see FIGURE 6) and will result in the continuous operation of motor 222. Shortly after control motor 222 has passed into its operative cycle, contact set 328 closes to complete a path to the cup dispenser motor 260. The cup dispenser motor starts into its cycle, closing contacts 370 and 372 to close a circuit to cup index motor 262 and to close an alternate path to dispenser motor 260. These two motors operate through a complete cycle which results in the placement of an empty cup in a cup iilling station of the machine and in the indexing of the cup storage mechanism to ready another cup for a subsequent operation. The cup motors 260 and 262 continue through their cycles to place a fresh cup in position to receive hot beverage fro-m the machine. The functioning of such cup dispensing is generally wellknown in the art.

Shortly thereafter in the operative cycle of motor 222, contact 330 closes to 332. This closure, however, produces no result in that the circuit to the coffee fill components is open between contacts 270 and 272 at unit A contacts -and at the now-open cam contacts 335 and 340. Motor 222 continues in its cycle and thereafter contact 345 closes to contact 346, a closure which also has no effect. As the cycle progresses, contact 350 closes to 352 and later to 354 to initiate the feed of soup ingredients to a mixing bowl for subsequent passage to the waiting empty cup. The soup hot Water solenoid 232 and the coup whipper motor 234 are rst energized through a path through closed contacts 352-350, 274-270, 280, and 296-295. Soup powder feed motor 230 is later energized through contact 354 which is closed to contact 350, as contact 350 maintains its closure to contact 352. Thereafter, contacts 335 and 340 close to their respective contacts 337 and 342. These closures are ineffective since contact 330 has now restored to its open circuit condition. On the conclusion of the feeding of the water and soup powder, contact 350 restores to its open circuit condition as do contacts 335, 340, and 345.

After a continued period of time, contacts 335 and 340 reclose to their respective contacts 336 and 344 to prepare circuits for the extra ingredients (cream and sugar). These circuits are incomplete, however, due to the previously recited open circuit condition at contacts 270-272 of unit A. Contacts 335 and 34@ thereafter restore. By this time, the beverage has been mixed, whipped, and dispensed to the waiting cup; the cycle motor must cycle itself to complete its operative cycle. Thereafter, contact set 325 closes to com-plete an alternate hold path to the selector solenoid 5t?, bypassing credit relay contacts 267. Contact set 348 releases to open the hold path to credit relay 265 which then restores. On restoration, relay 265 opens its contact sets 266, 267, and 268, in the previouslydescribed circuits. Following the restoration of relay 265, contact set 325 opens to release selector solenoid 5i). This release of the selector solenoid restores drawbar 22 (FIG- URE l) in the direction of arrow 32 under the effect of bias spring 33 and restores the actuated A and C units to their normal positions. The cycle control motor 222 then completes its cycle on restoration of contact set 348 and contact 32?.

It should be noted that in this cycle the circuit to the sugar feed motor 254 is continuously open even though the extra sugar button may be inadvertently depressed to close contacts 292. All circuits traced from this motor will be found to be open during Vthe closure of contact 335 to contact 336 or 337. In a similar manner, cream motor 256 will be maintained inoperative through open circuits within the cam contacts.

The operation of a chocolate cycle is similar to that described for soup except that depression of button B will lead to closure of contact 275 to contact 277 to cause chocolate ingredients to be dispensed in place of soup in the previously described cycle. For chocolate dispensing, `the series circuit through now open contacts 275-276 of the B unit will lock out feeding of all coffee ingredients, as in the soup cycle. The soup feed components are inoperative due to the open circuits at the A unit.

Motor 222 is energized (through the automatic closure of contact set 280 at unit C) and closes its contacts S20-324 to lock the motor operated for the duration of its cycle. Contact set 323 closes to operate the cup dispensing through a cycle of operation of motors 260 and 262. Contact 330 closes to contact 332 and later to contact 334 also, but these closures are ineiective due to the open circuit at contacts 275-276. Contact 345 closes to contacts 346 and later to 347 to energize both the chocolate powder feed motor 240 and whipper motor 244. Motors 240 and 244 along with hot Water feed solenoid 242 are energized in parallel through closed contacts 346-345 and 347-345, closed contacts 277-275, 272-270, 280, and 296-295. The remaining closures at contacts 350, 340, and 335 are ineffective.

During this cycle, the hot chocolate is made by the mixing of hot Water and chocolate powder in a whipping action. The completed beverage passes to the Waiting cup and is removed by the purchaser. The cycle control motor cycles itself through the remainder of the cycle in the manner similar to that described for the soup cycle.

When the purchaser desires the product represented by unit C, i.e., coffee with cream and sugar, he inserts his money to momentarily close contacts 295-297 and energize the credit relay. Credit relay 265 again is energized and locks itself through its own contacts. Coin actuated contact 295 restores to contact 296 causing the selector solenoid 50 to become energized. Energization of the solenoid pulls the drawbar 22 to release all levers 140 for selection. In addition, t-he circuit cycle motor 222 is prepared awaiting depression of button C. On depression of this button, contact set 236 closes and is latched 11" in the closed position'by the engagement of its lever 140 with its button 60. Cycle control motor 222 is energized through closed contact set 280 and starts its operative cycle, Contact 320 closes to contact 324 to lock cycle control motor 222 operated. Contact set 328 then closes to cycle the cup motors 260 and 262 and to dispense a cup to the beverage receiving position. Shortly thereafter, contact 330 closes to contact 332 to complete'a circuit to the hot water solenoid 252 through contacts 276-275, 272-270, and contact set 280. Thereafter, contact 330 closes to contact 334 to complete the circuit to coffee feed motor 250.

'I'he production of coffee may take either of two forms;

in one form the hot water and coffee solids in the form of soluble powder may be mixed together in a mixing chamber for dispensing to the waiting cup. In the second form, brew solids may be intimately mixed with the hot liquid in a brew chamber for subsequent passage to the waiting cup. In either event, the functioning of the described circuitry (as it affects the operation of the present invention) is similar and proceeds under the control of the cycle motor 222. As the cycle progresses, the chocolate and soup feed armature contacts 345 and 350 close to their stationary contacts through incomplete circuits to their ingredient motors which remain inoperative. Subsequently in the cycle, contact 335 closes to contact 337 to complete a path to the sugar feed motor 254. This path may be traced from the motor 254 through contact set 306, closed contacts 337-335, contact sets 284, 304, 286, and contacts 276-275, 272-270, contact set 280, and contacts 296-295. At approximately the same time, the cream feed motor is energized by the closure of contacts 340-342 through contact sets 282 and 304 to the previously described path, through the now-closed chocolate and soup unit contacts (B and A). Energization of sugar and cream feed motors feeds these ingredients to the drink being processed for subsequent passage to the waiting cup. Y As the cycle of motor 222 progresses, contacts 335, 340,345, and 350 restore. Thereafter, the contact 335 closes to its stationary contact 336 and contact 340 closes to its alternate closure at contact 344. This closure activates the extra cream and extra sugar buttons. If either or both of these buttons are depressed, the button or buttons latch the respective unit or units actuated. At these units, circuits are closed through one or both depressed buttons to the respective feed motor or motors through the series circuit including the A and B unit contacts as previously described. If neither of these auxiliary ingredients (cream or sugar) are desired, neither button G nor button H is depressed, and no activity occurs during this second closure of cam contacts 335 and 340. In any event, these contacts restore at the conclusion of their periods to complete the feeding -of ingredients to the dispensed product. The operative cycle of control motor 222 then continues to the end of its cycle through the pulsing of contact sets 325 and 34S, as previously described. This cycle acts to dispense a cup of coffee with both cream and sugar in normal amounts, or with extra amounts of cream and/ or sugar.

If the purchaser desires coffee with sugar (omitting the cream) he will, after inserting the proper coinage, depress button D. The coinage insertion will prepare the circuits as previously described and release all buttons for depression. Depression of the D button will also actuate the C unit through the connection of the C unit card to the drawbar 22. This depression of the D button opens contact set 282 which is then latched in the open condition for the duration of the operative dispensing cycle of the machine. As described previously, actuation of the D button causes actuation and closure of the C unit contact set 280. Actuation of the C unit will initiate the operation of cycle control motor 222 through contact set 280, and as the cycle begins, a cup is dropped to receive the completed beverage and is followed by the feeding of both hot water and coffee solids, as explained previously.

As the cycle passes into the period of closure of contacts 335 and 337, and 340 to 344, the dispensing of sugar will be allowed but the dispensing of cream will be prevented. The path tothe sugar feed motor 254 may be traced through contacts 306, 337-335, contact sets 284, 304, and 286 through contacts 276-275, 272-270, and contact set 280. At contact set 282,' the path to the cream motor will be open and remain so for the duration of this dispensingcycle. Thus, no cream can be fed during either this part of the cycle or during the subsequent cycle. In all other respects, this cycle is similar to that previously described for coffee with cream and sugar. In this instance, the actuation of unit D opens contact set 282, to alter the basic circuit and prevent cream from being added to the beverage.

If the purchaser desires coffee with cream (omitting the sugar), he inserts the coinage and depresses the E button. Depression of this button opens contact set 284 at the E unit, and closes the C unit contact set 280. Contact set 230 initiates the operation of the cycle control motor 222 and during the cycle will at the proper time initiate the feed of the cup, hot Water, and coffee solids. Cream will be fed to the beverage on the closure of contacts 340-342 through closed contact set 282 and the previously described path. The open circuit at open contacts 284 will prevent the feeding of sugar at any time during the cycle. The cycle will progress through the extra feed period and will conclude in the manner previously described. In this case, the -open circuit at the actuated unit E opens contact set 284 to omit sugar from the beverage being prepared.

If the purchaser desires black coffee (omitting cream and sugar) he inserts his coinage to release the mechanism for the depression of the F unit button. Depression of this butt-on will cause contact set 286'to open and will close the unit C contact set 280. Contact set 280 again initiates the operative cycle, the cup feed, and the feed of cotee ingredients. The circuits to both the cream ,and sugar feed motors will be open at open contact set 286, so that these ingredients are omitted from the beverage being produced.

From the foregoing it can be seen that on actuation of any of the principal drink selections (A-F), the contact set 280 of the C unit is actuated. This contact set begins the basic cycle. The circuit for feeding coffee ingredients is a series one which must be completed through both the chocolate drink unit (B) and the soup drink unit (A). Depression of either of these last-mentioned units will prevent the feeding of coffee ingredients and will feed the ingredients of the respective drink selected. This alteration of the basic circuit is accomplished through the breakmake spring combination at the two non-coffee beverage selection units.

The auxiliary ingredients of a coffee beverage, such as cream and sugar, are subtracted from the ingredients fed to the basic beverage, i.e., coffee with cream and sugar. For omitting these ingredients singly or in combination, individual break-spring -combinations are employed to subtract the ingredient or ingredients omitted from the beverage.

While there has been described what is at present thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the following claims all such modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a selection and dispensing control apparatus wherein a number of different products are available for selection, comprising:

(a) a selector switch mechanism including a plurality of manually actuatable selector units, one for each available output product,

(b) switching control means individual to each of said units, said switching control means each individually 13 operable in response to actuation of the unit individual thereto, the invention comprising:

(c) a predetermined one of said units actuatable automatically responsive to the actuation of any of said other units, and actuatable in response to a manual selection of the unit individual thereto for operating its switching control means,

(d) circuit controllers at one said unit responsive to the operation of its switching control means for initiating a basic dispensing cycle and for preparing the dispensing of the product represented by said one unit, and

(e) circuit controller sets at each of the remaining units,

(f) said last-mentioned controller sets, each individually responsive to a selective operation of its switch control means to modify the product prepared by the automatic actuation of said one unit to produce the product selected.

2. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the selector switch mechanism comprising:

(a) means mounting said units in rectilinear alignment in said mechanism,

(b) means commonly disposed relative to all said units for preventing said units from being actuated,

(c) release means for disengaging said preventing means to free said mechanism for a selection,

the invention comprising:

(d) means connecting said predetermined -one unit to said preventing means, and

(e) means at a unit selectively actuated for moving said preventing means when disenabled and thereby actuating said predetermined one unit concurrently with the actuation of the selected unit.

3. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said selector switch mechanism comprising:

(a) a channel structure with said plurality of units similarly configured and spaced along said channel,

(b) a slide member commonly disposed relative to all said units to prevent said units from being actuated,

(c) means responsive to coin insertions for releasing said slide member for subsequent selection of any one of said units for actuation,

(d) a selector member at each of said units operable to actuate its own unit to select the product represented by its own unit,

(e) means mounting said slide member for slide motion in response to the operation of any one of said selector members,

(f) means connecting said predetermined one unit to said slide member for actuation of said one unit on slide motion of said slide member,

(g) and means for holding said one unit and said selected unit actuated to complete the selected product for dispensing.

4. In a coin-operated selector and dispensing control apparatus for a vending machine wherein one of a number of different output products may be dispensed on selection thereof, and in which there are a plurality of product-making ingredients stored within said machine to comprise each output product, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a selector switch mechanism including a plurality of manually operable selector units, each representing an available output product,

(b) a selection member at each of said units responsive to manual operation thereof to actuate its own unit,

(c) means for debarring more than one of said units from being manually actuated simultaneously,

(d) a plurality of feed means, certain ones of which are operable on actuation of a unit for feeding individual ingredients to produce the product represented by the unit selected,

14 the invention comprising:

(e) a predetermined one of said units responsive to manual operation of any of said units to become actuated itself,

(f) a set of circuit controllers at said predetermined one unit for initiating a basic dispensing cycle and for preparing certain of the feed means for operation to produce a speciiic one of said products, and

(g) circuit controller sets at each of the remaining units,

(h) said last-mentioned cont-roller sets, each individually operable on manual, selective actuation of its unit to prevent the operation of one or more prepared feed means and modify the product being dispensed into the product represented by the unit selected.

5. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said mechanism further comprising:

(a) means normally debarring all said units against actuation,

(b) said debarring means responsive to coin insertions for releasing said units for a selection,

the invention comprising:

(c) means axing said one unit to said debarring means for movement therewith, and

(d) means at each of said units for moving said debarring means on selective actuation of that unit whereby said one unit is actuated automatically with the selected unit.

6. In an apparatus as claimed in claim S,

(la) said debarring means comprising a ladder structure overlying said units,

(b) a solenoid operated in response to coin insertions to release said ladder structure,

(c) ladder structure moving means at each unit normally engaged against moving said ladder structure, and

(d) means for disengaging the moving means of a selectively actuated one of said units for translatorily moving said ladder structure and operating the circuit controller set of the selected unit,

(e) the circuit controller set of the predetermined unit controlled by the movement of the ladder structure to operate, if not operated by manual selection.

7. In a vending machine, a selector switch mechanism adapted for selective operation comprising:

(a) a plurality of switch units longitudinally spaced along said mechanism, each of said units representative of a product to be vended,

(b) common release means for said units freeing all said units for selection,

(c) wherein each of said units comprises:

(l) a manually actuatable member selectively depressible,

(2) circuit controllers for implementing a selection,

(3) an actuator for operating the circuit controllers of that unit, and

(4) means responsive to the depression of its member only after freeing of said release means for operating its actuator, whereby (d) the release means responds to the operation of any actuator corresponding to the selection of the unit of that actuator for movement to an operated position,

the invention comprising:

(e) means at one of said units responsive to the movement of said release means for operating the actuator of said one unit to operate the circuit controllers at said one unit,

(f) the circuit controllers at said one unit operative to initiate a vend cycle for the most complex product to be vended, and

(g) the circuit controllers at any of the remaining units operative individually on selection of the unit thereof 1 5 to modify the vend cycle of said one unit to that of the product represented by the respective selected unit.

8. In a vending machine, a multiple switch mechanism for selective operation comprising:

(a) a plurality of switch units longitudinally spaced along said mechanism, wherein each unit respectively represents a separate product to be vended,

(b) a common release bar for said units, con-released to free all said units for selection,

(c) each of said units comprising:

(1) a manually actuatable push button selectively depressible,

(2) circuit controllers operable to complete the product to be Vended,

(3) a contact actuated for the respective circuit controllers of that unit, and

(4) a lever responsive to the depression of its unit push button only after freeing of said common release means for operating the actuator of that 20 unit,

(d) said release bar responsive to the operation of any of said actuator for movement to an operated position,

the invention comp-rising:

(e) the circuit controllers vat one of said units on operation thereof initiating a vend cycle for the most complex product to be vended,

(f) the circuit controllers at the remaining units individually operable on selection thereof to modify the vend cycle represented by said one unit to that of the product represented by the selected unit, and

(g) the actuator of said one unit directly connected to said release bar for movement therewith to its operated position for operating the circuit controllers of said one unit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,249,196 5/1966 Maxwell 194-13 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SELECTION AND DISPENSING CONTROL APPARATUS WHEREIN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION, COMPRISING: (A) A SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF MANUALLY ACTUATABLE SELECTOR UNITS, ONE FOR EACH AVAILABLE OUTPUT PRODUCT, (B) SWITCHING CONTROL MEANS INDIVIDUAL TO EACH OF SAID UNITS, SAID SWITCHING CONTROL MEANS EACH INDIVIDUALLY OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF THE UNIT INDIVIDUAL THERETO, THE INVENTION COMPRISING: (C) A PREDETERMINED ONE OF SAID UNITS ACTUATABLE AUTOMATICALLY RESPONSIVE TO THE ACTUATION OF ANY OF SAID OTHER UNITS, AND ACTUATABLE IN RESPONSE TO A MANUAL SELECTION OF THE UNIT INDIVIDUAL THERETO FOR OPERATING ITS SWITCHING CONTROL MEANS, (D) CIRCUIT CONTROLLERS AT ONE SAID UNIT RESPONSIVE TO THE OPERATION OF ITS SWITCHING CONTROL MEANS FOR INITIATING A BASIC DISPENSING CYCLE AND FOR PREPARING THE DISPENSING OF THE PRODUCT REPRESENTED BY SAID ONE UNIT, AND (E) CIRCUIT CONTROLLER SETS AT EACH OF THE REMAINING UNITS, (F) SAID LAST-MENTIONED CONTROLLER SETS, EACH INDIVIDUALLY RESPONSIVE TO A SELECTIVE OPERATION OF ITS SWICH CONTROL MEANS TO MIDIFY THE PRODUCT PREPARED BY THE AUTOMATIC ACTUATION OF SAID ONE UNIT TO PRODUCE THE PRODUCT SELECTED. 